Metacritic Movie Ratings
Dear John Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 70

  out of 100

  The New York TimesA.O. Scott

  Dear John carefully distills selected elements of human experience and reduces them to a sweet and digestible syrup. It may not be strong medicine, but it delivers an effective, pleasing dose of pure sentiment and vicarious heartache.

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• 58

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum

  Ironically, they make the bond between John and Savannah look so natural that the ''dear John'' turn in their relationship makes even less sense than it does in the book.

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• 50

  out of 100

  USA TodayClaudia Puig

  You're more likely to roll your eyes than swoon over this slow-moving and far-fetched love story.

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• 50

  out of 100

  Los Angeles TimesBetsy Sharkey

  There's no real depth or texture to the characters of any sort, sentimental or otherwise, and I say that as someone who can be brought to tears by a Hallmark commercial.

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• 50

  out of 100

  VarietyBrian Lowry

  Ultimately, the story feels as if it's killing time before throwing the next hurdle at the couple.

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• 50

  out of 100

  Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert

  Dear John exists only to coddle the sentiments of undemanding dreamers, and plunge us into a world where the only evil is the interruption of the good.

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• 50

  out of 100

  The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt

  The film, while heartfelt and directed by multiple-Oscar nominee Lasse Hallstrom, is dramatically stillborn.

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See all Dear John movie reviews at Metacritic.com